Shaft-adjusting means.



1. F. & H. E. DODGE. SHAFT ADJUSTING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-19,1914.

Patented May 16, 1916.

orace ar/arneys.

@FFTOE.

JOHN F. DODGE, QF DETROIT, AND HORACE E. DODGE, 0F QROSSE POINTE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS T0 DODGE BROTHERS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

SHAFT-ADJUSTING MEANS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F.- Donor and HORACE E.. Doncn, citizens of the United States, residing at' Detroit, Michigan, and

Grosse Pointe, Michigamrespectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft-Adjusting Means, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description. I

This invention relates'to shaft adjusting means and more particularly relates to means for adjusting the drive-shaft of automobiles in such way as to properly set the driving pinion of the diiferential so as to mesh properly with its companion gear.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for longitudinally adjusting a shaft in its housing, in such way that in the different adjusted positions the end thrust of the shaft in bothdirections will be properly supported and resisted. v I Another object is to provide shaft adjusting means of the character specified, which is also adapted to adjust the parts of the bearing and take up wear thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in common with the "thrust -resisting devices for locking them in a set position. Other objects of the invention are to provide simple, eflicient and practical means for adjusting a shaft.

These being among the objects ofthe present invention, the same consists of certa n features of'construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed with reference tothe accompanying drawings ill strating a suitable embodiment of the invention, and'in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a shaft adjusting means according to the pres-- ent invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the members 10 and 11 constitute a housing such as that for the main drive-shaft-12 of an automobile or motor driven car. Said shaft carries a keyed-on pinion 13 which meshes with a companion gear 14, saidgears constituting a On said shaft and spaced at a suitable distance away from said pinion 13 is an abutment 1.5, while the pinion 13 constitutes another abutment, said Specification of Letters Patent. Patgmjtedj Ma 16, 1916 Application filed August 19,1914. Serial No, esmaz.

flared or enlarged end of said tube 15*. The

shaft and tube are permanently united as by a weldjoint.

Located in cooperative relationship to the abutment 15 is a bearing preferably comprising race rings 16 and 17 and rolling bodies such for instance as rollers 18. In cooperat1ve relationship to the abutment furnished by the pinion 13 is another bearing, pref-- erably comprising race rings 19 and 20 and rolling bodies such as rollers 21. The shaft.

12 passes through and in contact with the inner race rings 16and 19 of the roller-bearings, while the outer race rings 17 and 20 thereof have contact with the inner wall of the housing section 11. Two bearings are therefore illustrated located between the abutments 13 and 15. Of course cages will usually-be employed for holding the rolling bodies.

.The housing section 11 is-screw-threaded,

on its inner wall at 22, which screw-thread is arranged between the two bearings. Having screw engagement with the threaded portion of the housing section 11 are castellated or other suitable form of externally screw-threaded nuts or collars 23 and 24. The nut 23 is arrangedin operative relationship to the bearing toward one end of shaft 12, while the nut 24 is arranged in operative relationship to the other bearing. If the said nuts are of castellated form andare arranged substantially as shown, nut 23 will present notches or recesses '23 toward the other nut and the nut 24 .will present notches or recesses 24 toward nut 23, said notches or recesses, in each series, preferably being equally spaced apart. When said nuts are arranged and constructed as shown, means in common with both of said nuts may be provided for locking them in position. To this end an aperture 25 is provided in the wall of the housing section. 11, at a point of convenient access opposite the nuts 23 and 24, and said aperture may be closed as by a segmental plate or cover 26 which: is provided at its mid-length with an inwardly shaft 12 is formed correspondingly to the projected tongue or key 27 and is secured to the said housing as by means of suitable removable fastenings 28.

hearing or from the abutment 15.

' Constructed, as shown-in the drawings,

the method of manipulating the parts, for

the adjustment .of the shaft 12 longitudi nally of the housing is as follows: The aperture in the housing is uncovered 'so that access may be gained to the nuts 23 and 24:.

By means of a suitable hand-tool, one' of the nuts, as for instance 23, maybe turned so as to move it away from its related rolfife hand-tool may now be appliedto the other nut 24 and by turning it in such direction as to move it away'from' the nut 23, theshaft 12 is longitudinally shifted with the pinion 13 in the direction in which nut 24 is shift- I ed, through themedium of the-interposed roller-bearing, if one be located at this point.

Such an adjustment by nut 24 will move the shaft 12 tothe right, and the-said shaft is finally set in suchposition. by applying. the hand-tool again to the nut 23 and turn "25' ing it in a reverse direction, untilthe shaft is set against appreciable longitudinal movement in either direction.- When the improved nut locking'means as shown is provided, care should be taken that the notches in each nut come opposite the notches in the other nut, and that one pair of notches be set tosuch position that when the cover or plate 26. is applied in proper. position on I the housing, the key or tongue 2.7 will engage v is thensecured in position.

It is obvious that some, if not all, of th advantages of the present invention may be with the walls of both notches; The cover obtained by the modification of some of the parts, or by omitting or adding other parts, 7

and still be within the scope of the invention, and therefore we do not limit ourselves to the preferred embodiment of our invention illustrated.

What we claim as new is 1. In a shaft adjusting means, the combination of an internally screw-threaded housing, a shaft located in said housing, shaft bearings fitted to said housing beyond the screw-threaded portion thereof and held on said shaft 'agamst outward movement relatively to each other, and externally screw-threaded nuts located between said bearings in engagement with said screw threaded portion of saidhousing, and adapted to be set in outward adjustedpositions toward said bearings.

2. In a shaft adjusting means, the combination of-an internally screw-threaded housing, a shaft located in said housing, shaft bearings located in said housing and held against outward movement relatively to said shaft, and externally screw-threaded nuts separate from and located between said bearings in engagement with the screw-threaded 'portion of said housing, and adapted to jacent sides, meanswhereby they are adapted to be turned. I

-3. In a shaft adjusting means, the combi nation of an internally screw-threaded housing, a shaft located in said housing, shaft bearings located in said housing and held against outward movement relatively to said shaft, and externally screw-threaded nuts located between said'bearings in engagement with the screw-threaded portion of said housing, and adapted to be set in outward adjusted positions toward said bearings, and means in common with said nuts for locking them against turning.

4. In a shaft adjusting means, the combination of.a housing, a longitudinally adjustable shaft arranged in said housing, and, provided with an abutment and a pinion spaced away from said abutment, and conment relatively to said housing.

5. Ina shaft adjusting means, the combination of a housing having an opening, a

longitudinally adjustable shaft arranged in said housing and provided with spaced abutments, bearings arranged to receive the end thrust of said shaft in both directions, through the medium of said' abutments, a pair of-nuts between said bearings, having screw-connection .with said housing, and

adaptedto bear against saidbearings, and cover means fixed to cover sa d housing opening and provided with means for locking said nuts against turning.

6. Ina shaft adjusting means, the combination of'a housing having an opening, a longitudinally adjustable shaft arranged in said housing and provided with spaced abutments, bearings arranged to receive the end thrust of said shaft in both directions, through the medium of said abutments, a pair of castellated nuts between said bearings, having screw connection with said housing, and adapted to bear against said bearings, and cover meansfixed to cover said housing opening and provided with a key adapted for a common engagement with the castellated portions of said nuts for locking said nuts against turning.

7. In a shaft adjusting means, the combi nation of a housing, ashaft therein, separate shaft bearings adjustably mounted in said housing and spaced apart longitudinally of said shaft, two means for adjusting said 1,183,283 I as;

bearings and shaft, and a single key carried by said housing for locking said twb ad 'justing means and said spaced bearings in rotated by said tool when it is introduced hrough said housing-opening, means where; by the end thrust of said shaft is transmitted to said nut, and means mounted on said housing and extending through said opening for locking said nut against turnmg. a

9. In a shaft adjusting means, the combination of a stationary housing, a shaft located in said housing, two-spaced abut ments on said shaft, one of which is formed by a pinion located on said shaft, a spaced pair of roller bearings for said shaft, ar-' ranged between said abutments, anda pair of nutslocated between saidbearings and having screw connection with said housing,

whereb the end thrust of said shaft in one direction is transmitted through one of said abutments to one of said nuts and the end thrust in the opposite direction is trans- -mitted through the other abutment to the other nut, and so that said shaft may be adjusted longitudinally of said housing.

10. In a shaft adjusting means, the combination of a stationary housing, a shaft located in said housing, two spaced abutments on said shaft, one of which is formed by a pinion, a spaced pair of bearings on said shaft, arranged between said abutments and'guided on said housing, and variably adjustable means located'between saidbearings and having-screw connection with said housing, whereby the bearings may be adjusted in opposite directions and the end thrustvof said shaft taken up by said adjusting means.

11. In a shaft adjusting means, the com bination of a housing, a shaft located in said housing, two opposiitely facing abutments projected laterally from said shaft, bearing members {fitted directly to said shaft and located on opposite sides of said abutments to take the thrust in each direction,

and means carried on the housing and accessible between said bearing members from the outside thereof for adjusting said parts longitudinally of said housing and holding said shaft in its adjusted position.

thrust in each direction, and means screwthreaded on the housing and accessible from the outside thereof, by means of a hand tool introduced through said opening for 'ad-' justing said parts longitudinally of said housing andholding'saidshaft in its adjusted position. I I

. 13. In a shaft adjusting means, the combination of 'a stationary housing, a shaft located in said housing, two spaced abutments on said shaft, aspaced pair of bearings on said shaft, arranged between said abutments, each bearing comprising an inner ring or com, a series of. tapered rollers and a tapered ring or, cup, the latter being guided upon said housing, and variablyadjustable means having screw connection with said housing, whereby the bearings may be adjusted in opposite directions and the end thrust of said shaft taken by said adjusting means, and the wear on said bearings taken up.

hearing members for said shaft located on opposite sides ofsaid abutments to take the said housing, a nut having a screw connection with said housing,'means fitted directly to said shaft whereby the end thrust of said shaft is first transmitted directly to said means and then to said nut, in one direction, a second nut having a screw 0011- nection with said housing, and means fitted directly to said shaft whereby the end thrust of said shaft in opposite direction is firsttransmitted directly to said means and then to said second nut, said nutsbeing arranged in juxtaposition between the two said means,

Signed at Detroit, Mich. this. 31 day of July 1914.

- JOHN F. DODGE;

HORACE Er DODGE. Witnessesi i W. R. WILSON,

I G. W. MASON. 

